The many faces of Tejas

Praise interpretive dancers from Rising Star Baptist Church performed at Wolf Park in front of town symbol, I&GN Depot Museum. From left, Ivory Douglas, Jadon Lewis, Lela Mitchell and Janeene Maloy. Reporter/Mike Brown
Rockdale’s fourth annual Tejas Fest, which unreeled downtown Saturday before a crowd of thousands, was as diverse as Texas.

Where also, in the space of a few blocks, could you listen to a former Texas agriculture commissioner, see a 1923 Ford TBucket, tour an art gallery, listen to three live bands and see a reenacment of Texas history?

And do it all while munching on barbecue, egg rolls, shishkebabs, hot dogs, baked goods, gorditas and ice cream.

T he Ro c kd a le D ow ntow n Association’s car show drew 101 entries from as far away as Victoria and San Antonio, according to Bernie Finley, organizer.,

The heart of Tejas Fest, as always, was appearances by authors at the city library and the depot-museum.

Cade Lambright gets a makeover from Karmjit Gill in face-painting booth in front of Kay Theatre.
Jim Hightower, former Texas Agriculture Comissioner, brought his brand of populist rhetoric to a crowd during his talk at the Depot, which played well after a huge round of corporate layoffs.

He plugged his book, “Swim Against the Current,” which chronicles people who he said have a better idea about how to run things, from banking experiments to organic farming.

The Denison native praised hard-working people: “The book is full of people just like you— plucky people, good folks. This country did not become great because of the Wall Street elite, but by every day people.”